>Larry Beason: > > In the interest of flexibility, what is the big deal over >restrictive and non-restrictive constructions? > > More information would be appreciated on this point. > >Sincerely, >Richard Swerdlin >([log in to unmask]) Richard, I'm not sure if you saw the earlier post, but I was replying to a query from someone else about whether or not nonrestrictive clauses might somehow be linked w/ skilled writers. I'm not sure it's really a "big deal," but there indeed might be something to the notion that many skilled writers use nonrestrictive clauses to PARTIALLY account for their skilled writing. If nothing else, a nonrestrictive clause suggests that the writer is giving additional detail that's not absolutely necessary but nonetheless useful, or perhaps he/she is giving an additional observation that again is not crucial but offers an amusing aside or insight. In many writing situations, such "gravy" can add a good deal to the meat of the sentence. Larry Beason,Director English Composition Program Dept. of English Eastern Washington University Cheney WA 99004 [log in to unmask] WAC Page: http://ewu66649.ewu.edu/WAC.html